...not the same lake anymore!
 

Today is July 22, so it's safe to say that the summer boating season on Lake Winnipesaukee has at least been here now for one month.....and counting. The weather started out kind of cool and wet, but then switched over to sunny, 80-degrees or warmer with relatively dry air with a couple of 3-H days thrown in for extra interest.

Looking back over the past 19-years, it was pretty common for a sunny summer weekend to bring out the big fast boats with their big, powerfull and loud engines. To describe it as if your head had been placed inside a chainsaw was the way it used to sound back in the day of the go-fast boats as they roared around past Buoy 3.

Well folks, something has definitely changed for this year's Lake Winnipesaukee boating season when it comes to assessing the weekend noise level out on the Big Lake. The noise level has definitely gone down, and by a very noticeable amount, too. It's really not the same fast and loud lake that it used to be on the weekend. Something has changed here, but I'm not exactly sure what it is?:rolleye2::rolleye2::rolleye2:

I'm sure it was the law that allows switchable exhausts, I'm glad you noticed a difference. I was hoping it would be successful.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due...
 

Yup, I noticed the same thing and saw first hand how nice switchable exhaust make the docks, coves, marinas and overall lake much quieter. Glad you also noticed it too FLL!

Kudos to the state and the crew over at SBONH for passing a law that makes so much sense!

Dan

Switchable exhausts is a mechanical device on the boat's exhaust system that formerly was considered to be not legal, but was recently made legal due to a recently passed law. I honestly have no real idea what the switchable exhaust does in terms of making the lake more quiet or more noisy, but considering the list of known associates listed under the two above posts, something tells me that we are probably looking at the switchable exhaust law with opposite opinions on it.

Geesh Rusty.....we keep getting caught thanking the same posts and they're going to cry conspiracy and not offer us a solidarity T-shirt at forumfest! :)

Sorry Less, talk about guilt by association. If you look at my posting history you will see that I always supported quieter boating. I truly believe that the switched exhaust law will quiet boats in no wake areas. I also think the other change to the boating noise law was a help, a few years back they allowed stationary testing. I still think enforcement is an issue.

Your post belies your real motives. During the speed limit debate, many claimed it was not an effort to ban a certain type of boat, just an effort to rein in the cowboys. Now you celebrate the success of the ban.

A sadder event is that it seems that Skip, a former rational opponent of the speed limit law has taken a different view. I won't guess why.

This basically sums it up. Many people do not take the time to educate themselves on the intended purpose of the law rather simply associates the law with the people who worked hard and actually took a stand for what they believe in. It is easy to throw rocks at the house that others worked hard to build.

SBONH has taken up many issues, supported many organizations for what they truly believe will help the lake. Some disagreed on certain issues and continue to keep their blinders on when any issue comes up. Simply put we have and continue to work hard for what we believe will improve the lake and those boating. We will win some and lose some. We don’t hold grudges and move on.

As far as the switchable exhaust, if you take the time to understand it or even ask (it isn’t hard to reach out to us) you will find that we wanted to fix the law because NH was the only state in the US that banned these types of systems. When we asked those who initially instituted the noise statues and ban on S.E. "Why the ban?" We were told “because we don’t want a boat with thru hull exhaust to be going down the broads and hit the button whenever they see a Marine Patrol Boat”. “It was an enforcement issue”.

This unfortunately was based on a falsehood that these systems can be used “at speed”. The truth of the matter is all of these systems are “not” designed to operate over 3000 rpms. You can cause catastrophic failure to the unit and damage to the engine. Now some people may risk that but frankly I can’t see risking a $20K engine over a $50 ticket. We also worked directly with the Marine Patrol to make sure the law was written so not to encumber current noise statues or become an enforcement problem.

The reasoning behind changing the law, whether opponents of SBONH what to believe it or not, was to make the lake quieter. For years we have heard opponents of performance boats complain about above water exhaust, especially when sitting by the lake or enjoying a meal at a waterside restaurant while a boat with above water exhaust mills about waiting for a dock space to open up. We also agreed with this contention. Switchable exhaust allows for the decibel level to be decreased almost to the point of not being heard while at idle. We had hoped that this would allow for boats outside the state, equipped with the system to be able to visit the lake helping the economy as well as help to lesson some of the contentions some have against performance boats.

We all have to share the lake and systems like switchable exhaust help make it easier for everyone to enjoy the lake together.

Ok....so it's all about the newly passed switchable exhaust law, and has absolutely nothing to do with things like the weather, the price of a gallon of gas, and yes......gasp.....the unmentioned here in this thread up till now .....quiet now.....pssst......the 45/30 speed limits law...shhhhhh...quiet on that item everyone!!! ??? ;););)

Just thought of this.....and another real reason there's less boats out there on Winnipesaukee....is because the Ames' Farm boat launch area has become closed as of 2010 to non-hotel guests or general public use. Ames' Farm had been a popular boat launch and get-together spot for a long long time, and now it's closed. Unlike the nearby Lakes Newfound, Winnisquam, and Squam: Lake Winnipesaukee doesn't have a state boat launch so trailer boaters are probably trailering to these three state boat launch lakes which are free-to-use, well designed, and complete with parking, rest rooms, ramps and docks.

Does that make any sense to you?

Switchable Exhaust...
 

At 8:52 this morning, a ski-boat opened up his exhaust: this is not a no-wake area.

SBONH has opened the door for those who already had a switchable exhaust—and they are now opening them up. :(

It does to Sunset Bob, oh, er, I mean Rusty...

FLL, I doubt seriously that many trailer boaters or lack thereof from the Ames Farm ramp were making it over to your neck of the woods. In fact, most of the boats at Ames were not the variety that would be on your list of most hated.

Of course you have made a claim about noise. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But please don't pretend that your post is considered anything but opinion. There are plenty of the old school wooden boats still on Winni going strong.

Your logic is not well founded......

Recall, less than 1% of boats were doing greater than 45 MPH sans speed limit. Don't kid yourself;)

Your facts are?

There is just nobody here
 

I've never seen so few boats. I've been here almost every day in July and my family has been here every day. I've never seen so little boat traffic. Sure, Saturday is busy in Meredith and the Weirs. Beyond that, the lake is dead. I'm not complaining, it sure has made for some nice days for me on the lake. I am concerned for the many businesses.

Looks pretty busy to me
 

After a trip to Center Harbor and an afternoon on the porch sipping margaritas I will give my "professional" opinion that lake boat traffic is within a normal range for a nice day in July.

No agenda. Just 30 years on the lake....

Oh, and Wolfeboro was busy and amazingly there was boat parking available at Center Harbor!

And it is definitely 10 degrees cooler on the island.

And yes Capt'n Bonehead is indeed on vacation this week too so be careful out there....

Try getting your facts straight FLLess; Ames Farm ramps were closed to the public in 2009, NOT 2010; I know because I had been launching there since 1999. I'm now in my 3rd year of launching at West Alton Marina. Here's the thread about Ames Farm's closing: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=7421.

Oh, that must be my fault; I've only been up to the lake two times so far this year!! But I'll be up ALL next week for my vacation!! Let me know where you live and I'll ride by and wave!! :D

Hi...I'm about 200 yards from Buoy 3....and apparently switching their switchable exhaust from below to above the waterline is very doable for boaters who want to send a message.....or express their opinion.....or something. One does not need e s p to get the message:D? It sounds a lot like the jake brakes on a big truck except boats do not have any brakes.

I don't believe any "ski-boats" in production have switchable exhausts...I have owned master craft and tige and have been on plenty of nautiques and moomba/supra. None of them have had an option for it. Direct or v drives exhaust under water.

Well if you remember back a little ways, several our posters made it very clear that they saw a dramatic improvement in the lake almost instantly after the speed limit was implemented. They had no facts, just there wishful thinking. I call this WinnFab Logic (WFL). If you wish it, then it is true.

Since Fat Lazy Less, posted that the lake was quieter, and the switchable exhaust law was about quieter, using WFL, what else could FLL mean?

I mean the speed limit supporter clearly said long ago that the issue wasn't just noise, it was boats going too fast. So we know again using WFL, that the speed limit laws didn't wish to quiet boats, so if they didn't wish it it can't be true. Again leaving only the new exhaust law.

Oh come on, I don't have any facts, neither does FLL, neither do you, neither does anyone in this discussion, it's 150% about opinions, it's politics.

Apparently from what I have seen and heard at Buoy 3, the difference in the exhaust noise between going 45-mph and 60-mph is pretty considerable. At 45-mph, it sounds like the engine is just working half fast, and the exhaust noise is pretty tame. But at 60-mph, the engines are working a lot harder and the exhaust noise is a lot bigger. Just my two cents!:D:)

Fuzzy logic FLL. A boat capable of going 45 without a high performance motor will sound a lot louder then a boat with a high performance motor going 60. The 45 mph boat is turning 4000 rpm while the 60 mph boat is turning 3000 rpm. Less rpm means less noise. Also both boats has to run at the same decibel or less because of the decibel law.

So what's your drift????

60?
 

FLL, with the SL there should be no boats going 60 MPH:confused:

How far from buoy 3 are you? You must be pretty close.
With your naked eye (I assume you don't own a radar gun) you know exactly how fast boats are going, and you can tell the difference between those boats going 45 and those going 60.

Amazing. You should work for the NH State Police, they could use a highly trained observer such as yourself.

Just my casual observation, but a lot of performance style boats now seem to be cruising along at 40-45 when in the past they would cruise at 55-60. So, it's like anything else, watch enough boats traveling past and you think to yourself that you can guesstimate their speed. No, I do not have a radar gun, just my eyes and ears. A very small number still push the limit and probably cruise along at 55-60 when it looks like there is no MP in the area, but it's a very small number.

OMG Skip; that's so cute.

APS, make sure you have all your facts and an understanding before you make a post like this. By a Ski boat, I am sure you are referring to a true inboard ski boat like a ski natique, mastercraft or the like. These boats never have switchable exhausts. why? because they don't need them. There exhaust is routed below the water line, and when at idle or no wake speed, the exhuast under water.. which makes a wonderful bubbling sound. They have internal baffles which keep the water from back flowing to the engine and muffling system. Upon leaping to plane these boats suddenly have the exhaust above water, and it produces some noise. If anything the boat you heard, probably had the muffling device that most of these boats have, removed. Thus was noisier then most. However this is not a case of switchable exhaust.

FLL you bring up very valuable points. You are correct, the economy, price of gas, and access to the lake have certainly made a difference in the number of boats this year.

However it is valid for others to point out, that in Area's such as the Wiers it is quiter as boats are now able to worry free use the switchable exhaust that many boats have already installed, and where only disabled do to laws.

Now to address the argument that speed limits have kept people away... well certainly it may be. However living on the lake and having been there almost every weekend this summer. There are just as many performance boats running around the lake as always. Most do obey the law, so they don't stick out like sore thumbs like they used to.

All in all the laws on the books have had serious and notable effects on the lake. Which means that they are working. The question is more to the point is the lake any safer or quieter because of them. In reference to the quietness issue, I have to say I have noticed that no wake zones and town harbors have gotten quieter as there is no more fear of throwing the switch to quiet a boat down, and getting caught with an illegal exhaust. On the contrary with a speed limit in place do I feel any safer on the lake? The answer to that one is no, I don't. I have run into just as many idiots this year as I have in the past, most if not all haven't even been in performance boats. And none have even been going any faster the 30 m.p.h.

So in my opinion the speed limit hasn't really reduced traffic, kept performance boats off the lake, or made my boating experience any more safe.

Bottom line is boating is down do to the economy, and gas prices..... Less traffic means less noise. Add on top of that the ability to use switchable exhaust system when prudent, means the lake gets even quieter. remeber the noise you here on the water, travels around and the loud noise you here might not be the boat you see in front of you....